Unlike the previous kiss carried with anger, this kiss clearly bore a trace of hysteria.

He was like a lost trapped beast—fierce, reckless, yet ultimately finding no way out.

Without that face veil as a barrier, and with the person beneath him no longer struggling as she had the first time, he invaded thoroughly, stopping just short of following along her lips and teeth to tear her apart bit by bit and swallow her whole.

Xiao Li’s breathing was heavy and labored. In this moment of greedy taking, it was as if a tsunami had risen in his body, finally lifting away the black seawater that had maintained false peace, revealing the desire beneath the iceberg connected to endless glaciers.

Only when his large palm slid down along Wen Yu’s spine did he suddenly stop as if awakening from a dream.

Then he pulled away from Wen Yu.

He was panting, his eyes also burning red, yet his expression remained so cold and detached. Raising a finger to wipe away the wet traces on Wen Yu’s face, he pressed his lips tight and said “Don’t provoke me again” before standing up and rushing out the door.

Wen Yu watched his retreating back. Her face showed not the slightest trace of vulnerability, only when her long lashes lowered over her eyes did they become stained with dampness.

She had done her best.

If he still wouldn’t reconcile with her, she had no other recourse.

Xiao Li walked out of the wing room with head bowed, then strode quickly out of the courtyard. Passing through an alley where several large water vats were placed, he finally braced his hands on the rim of a vat and plunged his entire head into the cold water.

Fine snow still drifted sparsely from the sky. In this deep winter month, the water in the vat was bone-chillingly cold.

But only after being thoroughly soaked by that water did Xiao Li feel the heat surging through his body recede.

Beneath the thin layer of flesh and skin, the blood flowing like molten lava through his veins was also slowly calming.

After submerging himself in the water for over ten breaths, he finally braced himself on the vat rim and stood up, letting the ice-cold water run down his soaked hair at his forehead and along his jaw, gasping for breath with eyes still fierce.

She shouldn’t have tempted him like that.

He only wanted to crush her, tear her to pieces, and swallow her whole—bones, blood and all, leaving nothing behind.

—

In the latter half of the night Wen Yu didn’t see Xiao Li again. Only that woman whose build was unusually tall brought her a bowl of porridge. After she finished eating and the woman came to collect the dishes, she also rubbed medicine on the severely bruised areas of her back.

Wen Yu knew little about that woman. Only from her clothing and behavior could she tell she should be someone from the martial world. The woman had her call her Third Lady, and her personality was also quite unrestrained.

When the room quieted down again, Wen Yu, harboring a belly full of worries, finally fell into a fitful sleep listening to the sound of ravaging wind and snow outside.

When she woke again it was already early the next morning. That woman called Third Lady had somehow found a slovenly old man to come take her pulse.

One of his eyes seemed to suffer from a film, showing an abnormal grayish-blue color. The hand gripping his cane also trembled constantly. But after three fingers settled on Wen Yu’s pulse point, they became remarkably steady.

After carefully discerning for a moment, he stated definitively: “This is not a pregnancy pulse. It should be a chaotic pulse caused by medication.”

After speaking, he looked at Wen Yu with his one functioning eye: “The person who made this medicine has considerable skill. If the medicinal effect hadn’t already begun to fade, this old fellow might not necessarily have been able to diagnose it.”

Third Lady Gongsun was quite curious: “There’s actually such medicine in this world?”

The old man snorted with laughter: “They can even make medicine for feigned death and stopped pulse—what’s so difficult about confusing a pulse to show pregnancy?”

Song Qin made a “please” gesture toward the outside: “We trouble you, sir, to prescribe some medicine to nourish this young lady’s body.”

The old man stood up leaning on his staff. Those hands started trembling again, but his expression appeared quite smug as he said: “Easily done.”

After everyone had left the room, Wen Yu silently gazed at the bed canopy overhead.

She hadn’t seen Xiao Li again today, but since a physician had diagnosed that her pregnancy pulse was fake, he would certainly learn of it.

Now with iron-clad proof, the excuse he had previously used to keep her here could no longer stand.

Only Wen Yu didn’t request to see Xiao Li.

If he still refused to let her leave, then even if she saw him, the two would only engage in verbal disputes.

Wen Yu understood what she needed to do now was first heal the injuries on her body.

Now that she was no longer in the military camp, as long as Zhaobai and Tongque could find this place where she was confined, they would have ways to take her away.

What truly required her to conserve energy and plan carefully was how to subsequently pacify Southern Chen and then root out the mole stirring up trouble behind the scenes.

Probably because the medicinal decoction she drank that morning contained sedative herbs, Wen Yu quickly became drowsy again.

—

In the front courtyard of the nunnery, after hearing Song Qin’s words, Xiao Li was silent for a long time before finally asking: “Truly not pregnant?”

Song Qin said: “Old Crazy’s medical skills are quite famous in the greenwood. It’s said his ancestors produced an imperial physician and he’s cured difficult ailments for many high officials and nobles. His pulse diagnosis is accurate.”

Hearing this, Xiao Li fell silent again. After a long while he only said: “Let her stay here to heal her injuries first.”

Song Qin nodded, but glanced at Xiao Li and said: “Lord Zhou cannot be away from camp too long. You should return today.”

Xiao Li didn’t know what he was lost in thought about, his brow slightly furrowed. His profile falling on the lake beside the decorative rock garden also appeared lonely. He only said: “Mm, return.”

Song Qin looked at him speechlessly for two breaths, his gaze sweeping toward the ancient temple behind him where Wen Yu was confined.

—

Pei Song considerately used a handkerchief to dab away the medicinal liquid overflowing from the corners of Jiang Yichu’s mouth, his expression gentle: “Elder Sister was naughty again today. If you don’t properly drink your medicine, how can your body recover quickly?”

On the bed, Jiang Yichu turned her head to the side, acting as if she heard nothing.

She had become even more emaciated than before, her face pale, dark hair loose and scattered. Her eyes only stared fixedly at one spot, as if immersed in her own world, no longer able to hear any other sounds around her.

Pei Song’s expression remained gentle as he used one hand to clamp Jiang Yichu’s jaw, very forcefully turning her face toward him.

He used a spoon to scoop up another spoonful of medicine and brought it to Jiang Yichu’s lips, a gentle smile at his lips as if treating an intimate lover: “Be good, stop throwing tantrums.”

But Jiang Yichu turned her head away again, and at the same time swept her hand fiercely, knocking over the medicine bowl held by the maid beside her.

The spoon in Pei Song’s hand also grazed past her cheek, leaving another wet trace of medicine on her face. The remaining medicine splattered onto the brocade quilt, leaving scattered yellowish stains.

“Minister, spare my life! This servant didn’t mean to!” The maid holding the medicine bowl was already frightened into kneeling on the ground in panic. In her confusion she tried to pick up the broken porcelain on the floor, cutting her hand without being able to attend to it, only begging for mercy.

Pei Song still patiently used his handkerchief to dab away the medicine stains on Jiang Yichu’s chin before casually asking that maid: “You want to live?”

That maid’s body shook like a sieve, tears already welling in her eyes as she nodded pitifully.

Pei Song took the second bowl of medicine that had been prepared early and handed it to her, his tone still gentle as if some refined gentleman: “You know that this minister never keeps useless people. Make Beauty Jiang drink the medicine, and this minister, considering you still have some use, will spare your life.”

That maid took the medicine bowl again, her hands also trembling uncontrollably. Unable to care about the spilled medicine on the floor, she crawled on her knees all the way to Jiang Yichu, tears streaming as she begged: “Please, Beauty Jiang, take your medicine.”

Jiang Yichu still faced the inner side of the bed, not speaking, showing no emotion. Her whole person was like a puppet on strings.

Seeing Jiang Yichu like this, Pei Song’s eyes also held some hatred, yet he still smiled at the maid: “It seems Beauty Jiang doesn’t want to spare your life.”

The maid was so frightened her face turned deathly pale. Her hands shook until she could barely hold the medicine bowl. Lowering her head she sobbed in anguish: “I beg Beauty Jiang to save this servant. This servant still has elderly parents and a pair of younger siblings at home…”

Jiang Yichu finally turned to look, only those eyes were already lifeless, full of numbness. She seemed both weary and mocking as she asked: “This kind of game—haven’t you played it enough yet, Pei Song?”

Pei Song intimately kissed her at her temple, his smile shallow and warm: “As long as it makes Elder Sister obediently drink her medicine, any old game will do, won’t it?”

After speaking he glanced at that maid. The maid, unable to care whether she’d be injured by the previously shattered porcelain bowl, quickly crawled closer on her knees, raising that bowl of brown medicinal liquid high before Jiang Yichu.

Jiang Yichu finally took that bowl of medicine and tilted her head back to pour it down. But whether the medicine was too bitter or her body too weak, after drinking it she couldn’t help but start retching. In the end she not only vomited up that entire bowl of medicine cleanly, but even nearly vomited up bile.

Pei Song flew into a rage, shouting for someone to fetch a physician. Completely disregarding the filth, he half-embraced her through a layer of brocade quilt, making it convenient for Jiang Yichu to lean against him and continue vomiting into the spittoon.

While using his handkerchief to wipe the corners of Jiang Yichu’s mouth, he softly soothed: “It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have forced Elder Sister to drink the medicine…”

The maids quickly changed all the bedding and covers to new ones, and wiped away all the filth on the floor.

Jiang Yichu’s stomach spasmed until she could vomit nothing more. Her whole person seemed drained of all strength. Lying in Pei Song’s embrace, she smiled faintly: “If I die, won’t you lose one source of amusement for your performances?”

A vein bulged at Pei Song’s temple—this was a harbinger of his anger.

But Jiang Yichu was already too weak to withstand any of his fury.

He finally only intimately touched Jiang Yichu’s cheek, saying gently: “Why must Elder Sister always think of ways to provoke my anger? You clearly know I can’t bear to hurt you, so I can only mistreat Wen Heng’s daughter to vent.”

Fury had just appeared on Jiang Yichu’s face when someone outside urgently announced: “Master, someone from Beauty Zheng’s side says she has abdominal pain. Beauty Zheng fears something is wrong with the child and is crying terribly…”

Pei Song’s expression turned cold abruptly, saying unconcernedly: “If she has abdominal pain then fetch a physician.”

Hearing Pei Song’s anger, the announcer’s voice also lost confidence: “Beauty Zheng is making a fuss about seeing you…”

Pei Song’s expression became extremely impatient. Only when looking at Jiang Yichu did he resume that calm expression. He seemed to want to steal another kiss at Jiang Yichu’s cheek, but Jiang Yichu dodged away.

This gesture of refusal actually improved Pei Song’s mood. He fixed Jiang Yichu’s jaw in place, asking in a soft voice: “Is Elder Sister jealous?”

Jiang Yichu said not a word, only responding with a cold laugh.

This was truly the greatest humiliation requiring no words.

The force Pei Song applied to Jiang Yichu’s chin increased, forcing her unable to move even slightly. Only after forcefully placing a kiss at her cheek did he release her.

“Elder Sister clearly knows that what I want, I’ve never failed to obtain. Why must you insist on making things difficult for yourself and opposing me?”

Jiang Yichu sat hunched at the edge of the bed, disheveled hair falling down to hide the expression on her face.

Pei Song stood up and walked outside. In the end he pitied that her body had never improved since that arrow and she was also still pregnant. Just before reaching the outer room, he stopped and said: “If Elder Sister eats and drinks her medicine properly today, tomorrow you may see that Great Liang remnant for one shichen.”

—

After leaving Jiang Yichu’s courtyard, Pei Song was about to go to Zheng Shi’s courtyard when another eagle hound rushed to report: “Master! Mister Gongsun has returned and is in the front hall, saying he must see you.”

Pei Song’s brow furrowed: “Wasn’t Mister presiding over the southern border battle situation? Why has he come to Fengyang at this time?”

The eagle hound replied carefully: “Perhaps it’s about Beauty Jiang using herself as bait to help Grand Preceptor Yu and the other Great Liang old ministers escape Fengyang.”

Pei Song then had an idea. He said to the servant from Zheng Shi’s courtyard who was leading the way: “This minister has pressing official business. I’ll visit your mistress later.”

That servant naturally dared not say more and bowed to withdraw.

Pei Song changed direction to go to the front hall. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Gongsun Chou standing with hands behind his back facing the latticed window, his figure appearing slightly stooped.

He said: “If Mister was returning to Fengyang, why not send someone ahead to notify me so I could arrange for people to receive you?”

Gongsun Chou turned around and struck his cane heavily: “This old minister has abandoned the southern border battle situation and left it to Yu Wenjing, Han Qi and those other juniors in order to return and handle a household matter for my lord.”

He said painfully: “That evil woman has sabotaged my lord’s great enterprise again and again. Even if this old minister must risk death remonstrating here today, I must have my lord execute that evil woman!”